attorney / prosecutor

Their top target was Charles Turner, the U.S. attorney for Oregon. His prosecutors were investigating immigration fraud at the commune. A federal mediator disclosed to the Rajneeshees that criminal charges were likely and might include the guru himself. He also disclosed that Sheela probably would be charged.

Their top target was Charles Turner, the U.S. attorney for Oregon. His prosecutors were investigating immigration fraud at the commune. A federal mediator disclosed to the Rajneeshees that criminal charges were likely and might include the guru himself. He also disclosed that Sheela probably would be charged.

The prosecutor is one kind of attorney, who works for the government, prosecuting criminal charges. Davd Frohnmeyer was the Attorney General for Oregon. His subordinates were Assistant Attorneys General, and they were the prosecutors for state criminal charges. Charles Turner was the U.S. Attorney for Oregon, and his subordinates were the Assistant U.S. Attorneys, who were the prosecutors for federal criminal charges.

We use the term "Attorney General" and "U.S. Attorney" often to refer to any of the attorneys in the group, not just the head of the department. We use the term "prosecutor" to refer to any attorney who is handling a criminal case for the government. A prosecutor is one kind of attorney.

It's the difference of which government is bringing the charges. In a country like the United States, we have the federal government (national) based in Washington D.C., and a set of federal laws. If someone breaks a federal criminal law, the federal prosecutors bring the charges and the case is heard in federal court. In the federal system.

The second system is the state system. Each state has it's own separate laws, and a separate prosecutor, and separate courts.

The third system is the tribal system. Many, or most, Indian tribes now have their own laws and their own courts and their own prosecutors.

So first, we have to know which system we are talking about. Then we have to know which term is used in that system. The terminology varies.

The concept of "federalism" is often hard for people from other countries to understand. We have THREE systems, here, side by side. Try to think of the United States like the European Union. Each country in the EU, like each state in the U.S., has its own government and laws. But they also have to obey certain laws of the E.U. In the beginning (1776 or 1789), the U.S. federal government was small and weak, and each State had its own power. Over the past 300 years, the power of the Federal government has grown and grown, and now we have a large Federal system. But we also still have each individual state, with its own separate powers, courts, and government. And don't forget about the Indians -- Tribes are a third system. So we have three systems, side by side, often competing.

David Frohnmeyer was the Attorney General for Oregon (Procurador General de Oregon). His subordinates were Assistant Attorneys General (Asistentes del Procurador General), and they were the prosecutors (fiscales a cargo) for state criminal charges. Charles Turner was the U.S. Attorney for Oregon (Procurador Federal en Oregon), and his subordinates were the Assistant U.S. Attorneys (Asistentes del Procurador Federal), who were the prosecutors (fiscales a cargo) for federal criminal charges.